"Herrin," the Valkyri said, opening the curtin, "You're..."
She paused at the sight of the spangly dressed Draconian, breathing into a paper bag. "Stage fright, still?"
"This isn't easy," he panted. "They're all predators! Every last one of them! From the smallest to the oldest! The most dangerous species that the galaxy has ever seen!"
The Valkyri's right eyebrow arched. His eyes widen in sudden horror as the color in his scales paled to pastel green.
"You're... you're just as bad!" he managed. "I can't do it, I can't do it...!"
"You say that every night," the Valkyri said, shaking her head while her wings rustled in irritation. "Pull yourself together and get on stage!"
The Draconian's chest heaved, then he managed to push himself upright.
"Why did I agree to do this?" he moaned.
"Because they're paying you well," the Valkyrii sighs, rolling her eyes. "Get out there!"
It was a short walk from his dressing room to the stage. From behind the curtain, he could hear the murmur of conversation, the clanking of silverware, a high-pitched laugh that made the raised the hackles on his scaly back - but he was a professional. He brushed his synthetic hair, straightened his jacket, then did the scariest part of his job - he exposed his teeth, knowing every one of the predators in the audience were going to see that challenge.
"I'm not getting paid enough for this," he whined quietly, then nodded. Moments later, the band played a fanfare, and he stepped out from behind the curtain, sweating bullets.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" he called out in false bravado as he pulled out a card from his inner pocket and read, "Welcome, I am Herrin Volz, and I am your Earth Invasion Co-ordinator...!"
He paused, exaggeratedly staring at the offending card in his hand, then tossed it away. "Sorry, old card."
The audience laughed politely as he pulled out a new card.
"I am Herrin Volz, and it is my honor to welcome you aboard the Zodiac Line's latest cruise ship, Scorpio! We're hoping you're enjoying that new ship smell!"
Off-gassing paint and plastic that the air scrubbers were struggling to deal with, he grinned, delightful.
"Especially to all our sweepstake ticket winners, who have won a full year-long voyage on this very ship!"
There'd been more winners than expected, a glitch in the software, but legally the line had to honor the tickets. The expensive passenger berthing compartments, not part of the sweepstakes, were paying the operational costs this trip.
"I hope you had a great time at the colony of Beaumonde and scenic Port Charles!" he gushed. It wasn't bad if you liked mountains and trees, or sliding down snowy slopes with a pair of skis. And they did a lot of drinking, either to prepare themselves to go sking or to warm themselves up afterward. They boasted a lot of breweries for a small colony.
Beaumonde had recovered well, after the scorching.
"We are currently in transit to our next jump point to the human colony world, Shilnon, and we'll be arriving in seven short days! Please contact our ship's AI for more information about the wonderful sights and attractions at our next destination!"
Most went to see the glass towers and to listen to them sing in the wind, an unexpected result of the scorching that world underwent. It was like visiting a cemetery that sang to you - not that any of them would feel that.
"And now, let's start our glorious floor show!" he said, as the music swelled and he could escape into wings as human dancers came gliding out, the sight still chilling his blood as each one smiled, bearing their teeth.
"Good job," the Valkyrii said, clapping him on the shoulder and handing him a bowl of hard boiled eggs. "Eat up, you're back up on stage in twenty five minutes."
"Do I have to?" he said, staring down at his bowl.
"Is this the talk of a once proud race who over a thousand years ago was enslaving a third of the galaxy?"
"We didn't know any better," he whined, then ate the first egg.
An interstellar civil war had already decimated many of the alien worlds in this sector, leaving few survivors by the time Humanity made its way into interstellar space with cheap star-drives. Most of the passengers are going to be human - the few aliens are likely to be minor celebrities or government reps, as they're the only ones who can afford passage (no sweepstake winners among them).
While this ship boasts elegant dining, a casino, pools and plenty of boutique shops, it's also prepared for hostile attacks - automatic defensive weapon emplacements and anyone unauthorized trying to access the bridge or critical areas will be lucky if they only walk away stunned by the first layer of defense.
Anyone want to take a trip?
She paused at the sight of the spangly dressed Draconian, breathing into a paper bag. "Stage fright, still?"
"This isn't easy," he panted. "They're all predators! Every last one of them! From the smallest to the oldest! The most dangerous species that the galaxy has ever seen!"
The Valkyri's right eyebrow arched. His eyes widen in sudden horror as the color in his scales paled to pastel green.
"You're... you're just as bad!" he managed. "I can't do it, I can't do it...!"
"You say that every night," the Valkyri said, shaking her head while her wings rustled in irritation. "Pull yourself together and get on stage!"
The Draconian's chest heaved, then he managed to push himself upright.
"Why did I agree to do this?" he moaned.
"Because they're paying you well," the Valkyrii sighs, rolling her eyes. "Get out there!"
It was a short walk from his dressing room to the stage. From behind the curtain, he could hear the murmur of conversation, the clanking of silverware, a high-pitched laugh that made the raised the hackles on his scaly back - but he was a professional. He brushed his synthetic hair, straightened his jacket, then did the scariest part of his job - he exposed his teeth, knowing every one of the predators in the audience were going to see that challenge.
"I'm not getting paid enough for this," he whined quietly, then nodded. Moments later, the band played a fanfare, and he stepped out from behind the curtain, sweating bullets.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" he called out in false bravado as he pulled out a card from his inner pocket and read, "Welcome, I am Herrin Volz, and I am your Earth Invasion Co-ordinator...!"
He paused, exaggeratedly staring at the offending card in his hand, then tossed it away. "Sorry, old card."
The audience laughed politely as he pulled out a new card.
"I am Herrin Volz, and it is my honor to welcome you aboard the Zodiac Line's latest cruise ship, Scorpio! We're hoping you're enjoying that new ship smell!"
Off-gassing paint and plastic that the air scrubbers were struggling to deal with, he grinned, delightful.
"Especially to all our sweepstake ticket winners, who have won a full year-long voyage on this very ship!"
There'd been more winners than expected, a glitch in the software, but legally the line had to honor the tickets. The expensive passenger berthing compartments, not part of the sweepstakes, were paying the operational costs this trip.
"I hope you had a great time at the colony of Beaumonde and scenic Port Charles!" he gushed. It wasn't bad if you liked mountains and trees, or sliding down snowy slopes with a pair of skis. And they did a lot of drinking, either to prepare themselves to go sking or to warm themselves up afterward. They boasted a lot of breweries for a small colony.
Beaumonde had recovered well, after the scorching.
"We are currently in transit to our next jump point to the human colony world, Shilnon, and we'll be arriving in seven short days! Please contact our ship's AI for more information about the wonderful sights and attractions at our next destination!"
Most went to see the glass towers and to listen to them sing in the wind, an unexpected result of the scorching that world underwent. It was like visiting a cemetery that sang to you - not that any of them would feel that.
"And now, let's start our glorious floor show!" he said, as the music swelled and he could escape into wings as human dancers came gliding out, the sight still chilling his blood as each one smiled, bearing their teeth.
"Good job," the Valkyrii said, clapping him on the shoulder and handing him a bowl of hard boiled eggs. "Eat up, you're back up on stage in twenty five minutes."
"Do I have to?" he said, staring down at his bowl.
"Is this the talk of a once proud race who over a thousand years ago was enslaving a third of the galaxy?"
"We didn't know any better," he whined, then ate the first egg.
An interstellar civil war had already decimated many of the alien worlds in this sector, leaving few survivors by the time Humanity made its way into interstellar space with cheap star-drives. Most of the passengers are going to be human - the few aliens are likely to be minor celebrities or government reps, as they're the only ones who can afford passage (no sweepstake winners among them).
While this ship boasts elegant dining, a casino, pools and plenty of boutique shops, it's also prepared for hostile attacks - automatic defensive weapon emplacements and anyone unauthorized trying to access the bridge or critical areas will be lucky if they only walk away stunned by the first layer of defense.
Anyone want to take a trip?
